Trawler School Charters Blog

We arrived at an anchorage late, at 8:15pm, as we could not anchor earlier. There was an unusual run of about 10 bridges covering a span of 25 miles in North Myrtle beach with no anchorage in between.

When we went to anchor the transmission would not go into forward or reverse. All I could think of was $8,000.00 new $3,500 used and lots of time for repairs. I went directly to the tranny and disconnected the cable and shifted it (nothing). There were a lot of crab traps where we anchored, so I thought a line was around my prop. After telling you I was not going into the water with the alligators, there I was, back in the water. The prop was clean. Consulting with my friend and marine mechanic, he was sure it was my damper plate inside my tranny. We have replaced 3 in ten years. They disassemble due to going into reverse and forward, and because I teach docking there is a lot of wear and tear. Called Boat US and got to Anchor Marina, where they work on Saturday. Pulled of the backend of the tranny, and sure enough, it was the damper plate. Lucky for me it cost $150.00 and 4 hrs labour $95.00 an hour. But need to order it Monday and over night it on Tuesday. In the mean time my clients were very patient, and because Carey is a Doctor he has lots of patients. Paula was right with him.

All in all they decided to rent a car and drive home 3 hours and return on Tuesday to continue on the trawler journey northbound. They were very nice when I met them and very cool and helpful under pressure. I know they’ll be back because they left a box of fine wines onboard, Ha Ha.

The part in question, there was no way to check it out no preventive maintenance could have warned me about this hidden and concealed part in my transmission. Welcome to boating! My clients got to learn a lot on how to go right into action on breakdowns. Always buy the best towing card $180.00 from Boat US so your covered up to 3,000 per tow, with unlimited tows per year.

Broken up damper plate. Please don’t ask me how Pee Wee’s head got in there.

Day 11 Friday May 29th

When I wake up I always jump into the water and float on my noodle. About 50 yards in the swamp I heard a big splash.  It was an alligator! It jumped in and came my way underwater. I had no idea how fast they are. Well, the noodle flew from between my legs about 10 feet, and I never swam so fast in my life. I left the noodle- it was unlucky and I’m not going in the water until I hit up north with the sharks.

Easy cruising, left at 11:00 and hit Myrtle Beach about 2:00. Filled the tank ($2.50 a gallon, what a deal) with one hundred gallons. Met my new clients, Paula and Dr. Carey, they are very cool. I’m sure we will have lots of laughs on the way to Boston, which will take about 12 to 15 days.

We got right off the dock and cruising about 4 hours to an anchorage near Calabash, NC. My clients told me of one of the freshest seafood restaurants on the east coast, if we arrive early enough to we mighty dingy ashore and try it out.

I woke up very, very groggy from the medicine I took the night before. Just a bad start, left anchor at 11:00. I was feeling better, but lost a half day. Everything was fine till about 2:00. I had to pull over and anchor took a 2 hour power nap. Heave ho, I was off cruising again.

The highlight of the trip was going through Charleston Harbor, seeing those old forts standing from the civil war, and buildings that were used for the arrival of the slaves. This was the major port used for that way back when. Made it into NC. Yahoo! Encountered my old friends, the horseflies there. Millions landed on the Bimini above me. I don’t know if they knew I was the serial fly killer, but without Captain Fred and I, back to back, fighting them off, I was a dead man (it was scary). They were staring at me and I was staring at them, we ended up making a deal. I would not kill them and they will leave me alone, a friendship was started. Not one of them touched me for hours. Now that their my buddies they will be coming to Boston with me.

Anchored in the swamps myself, in no mans land again. Nobody out there, so I kept my flare gun locked and loaded, just in case. I only saw 2 boats traveling on the Intracoastal.

I’m ready to take off its 8:00. Only did 6 hrs yesterday, 50 miles. I feel much better, no medicine last night and 10 hours of sleep.

Sea U tomorrow I hope my iPad is not charging, and that is not good. I’ll be lost without it.

My iPad is not charging, this will be a big blow to me. I use it for navigation also, if you don’t hear from me that is the reason.

Captain’s log.      Day 12 Tuesday June 2nd

The damper plate $150.00 arrived over night, and at 9:30am the crew to install it (5) guys had it in in an hour. The cost for 4 nights and labor was… are you ready for this $305.00. Unbelievable- what a gift. I gave the boys a very good, and I mean good, cash tip but that was not it, they got Wilma’s twin sister. They are going shopping and buying her an outfit and posting her onto the haulout lift, they were a bunch of honest good guys.

My clients returned at 11:00 and we were off the dock at 12:00. They are at the helm. Now it is 2:10 and we finally crossed into NC. Thank God, I thought I was never getting out of SC.
I’m trying to get 60 miles 7 hours to Southport it is a sleepy town 20 miles from Wilmington NC.

I cruised 600 miles and have 1,100 more to go. Feels really good being on the water again.

Sea U
Captain Bob

Day 9.       Tuesday      5–26

Hilton Head was Captain Fred’s place to hop off and head back to FL. Now I’m on my own for the next 4 days until I pick up my new clients Paula & Carey on Friday night in Wrightsville Beach NC. I never did long range cruising alone before. I will take the advice and experience of Captain Fred’s 45 years of experience on both power and sail, and along with my trawler school training, I should be just fine.

One problem: I became sick with the flu, fever, whatever, last night and felt a little groggy. I never get sick and this is the worst time ever. I must be fully alert at the helm. I’m by myself, must concentrate.

Left at 9:30 anchored at 6:00 went by a place I’ll never forget, Parris Island, SC. Yes Sir, the Marines were out marching and I could hear the Mr. Drill Instructor yelling, “Hamilton, you knuckelhead, we didn’t promise you a rose garden!” I just increased my speed wide open until I was safe.

Went 7 hours, 65 miles no problem. I’m receiving a lot of navigating information with no one to turn to but myself. I’m anchored between Charleston SC and Beaufort SC.
I’m taking medicine and going right to sleep for about 12 hours see if I can shake this cold. Good Night!

Sea U
Captain Bob

One person on the beach with there dog pretty cool.

Parris Island USMC ARRORRA
Captain Robert Hamilton

Day 5 Friday 5–22
Bad Northeast winds 15 to 20 kts in the ocean, rough and not good. We decided to cruise the inside of the Intracoastal thru Georgia. It was exciting, and what a view- twisting and turning. You must be on your toes at all times, one mistake and you’re in no-mans land. 100 miles of swamp and marshes.

Just as we were getting tired, out of nowhere came the horse flies (HELP!). First there was a few, I was beating them off with a shoe. Then an army of them came. I got better at killing them, then another million of them surrounded us. We were on the fly bridge, back to back, armed with one shoe each, and the battle went on for hours. By the end of the day there were so many dead flys on the deck we needed to sweep them off the boat. We are now certified serial fly killers, the word out is don’t mess with the crew of the Miami Mermaid!

10 hours and 105 miles we are 50 miles from Hilton Head SC. My friend who came along to assist has been a great help and I learned a lot from him. Thank you, Captain Fred from Key Largo, I put him thru Captain’s school 15 years ago and he was my back up Captain on my charter school. All my clients loved him, he is a great teacher and friend. We have a huge party to attend in Hilton Head tonight. We will be pulling in there about 3:00 pm, we’ll stay a couple days to laundry, clean the boat, get supplies, change all the oil in the engine and generator- this is very important. And of course, relax. More info on the Hilton Head big party tomorrow.

Hit rough waters on the way, went through it in 1 hour.

Captain’s Log      Day 2.      May 19th 2015

Ahoy Matey’s, another 10 hour day. We covered 90 miles on the Intracostal, dealing with currents, tides & sand bars. I sure don’t want to run aground. Great sights and learning a lot about long range cruising. Anchored at Cocoa Beach, (I Dream Of Jeanie) need to dingy ashore to get a part at West Marine, my clients are forcing me to go to the Sugar Shack bar, Roger that,tuff job! Back to the Miami Mermaid. Oh well it’s been a long day. Good night.

Captain Bob
Over & Out